American Airlines Raises Bag Fees, Won’t Allow Some Travel Agency Bookings To Earn Miles

American Airlines has raised the price to check a bag for the first time in more than five years and said it would limit which travel agency bookings are eligible to earn frequent flyer miles.

Passengers will pay $35 to check a first bag for domestic flights if the service is booked online in advance, or $40 if they purchase the option at the airport, the carrier said Tuesday. Both options previously cost $30. A second checked bag will cost $45, up from $40, whether purchased in advance or at the airport.

Travelers’ first checked bag on flights between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean or Mexico will be $35 whether in advance or at the airport.

American Airlines last raised bag fees in September 2018 along with other major airlines. Carriers are looking for ways to increase revenue as airfare has declined over the past year. The last inflation report showed airfare fell more than 6% in January from a year earlier.

“Our cost of transporting bags is significantly higher” over the past few years, said Scott Chandler, American’s senior vice president of revenue management and loyalty. “Fuel is a big component of it.”

Airlines and other companies have been grappling with how to cover higher costs, such as new labor contracts, while pricing power has waned.

Other airlines have also recently raised bag fees. This year, Alaska Airlines increased the charge for economy passengers to check bags by $5 to $35 for a first piece and $45 for a second bag. JetBlue Airways started charging most coach travelers $45 to check a bag within 24 hours of departure, up from $40. In advance, JetBlue is now charging $35 for the first bag.

“While we don’t like increasing fees, it’s one step we are taking to get our company back to profitability and cover the increased costs of transporting bags,” JetBlue said in a statement. “By adjusting fees for added services that only certain customers use, we can keep base fares low and ensure customer favorites like seatback TVs and high-speed Wi-Fi remain free for everyone.”

United Airlines and Delta Air Lines declined to comment Tuesday on potential changes to their policies. Southwest Airlines offers passengers two free checked bags.

In the first nine months of 2023, U.S. airlines brought in $5.5 billion from baggage fees — including more than $1 billion by American alone. The total was up 9% from the year-earlier period, and up more than 25% from the first nine months of 2019, according to the Transportation Department’s latest data.

American’s frequent flyer members with elite status and some American Airlines credit card holders will still receive a complimentary checked bag, it said Tuesday in announcing the changes.

The Forth Worth, Texas-based airline is also reducing fees for slightly overweight bags, so travelers will no longer have to frantically remove items from their suitcases at the check-in counter. For example, customers will pay a fee of $30 on checked bags that are as much as three pounds over a 50 pound limit, instead of the previous $100 fee.

American also said on Tuesday that it will start limiting which tickets purchased through a third party are eligible to earn AAdvantage frequent flyer miles, a move that aims to drive traffic to American’s website and the latest in a series of changes to the program. It said it will provide a list in April of preferred travel agencies whose bookings will still be eligible for the rewards credits.

Customers who buy basic economy tickets will only earn frequent flyer miles if they book on American Airlines’ website.

https://www.cnbc.com/leslie-josephs/

Travelore Tips: Recommended Clothing To Pack For Your Next European Vacation To Avoid Fines

Packing for a trip is all about planning, organization, and adaptability. From choosing the right fabrics to ensure you always look your best while on vacation to maximizing carry-on space and minimizing over-packing — you always want to make sure you avoid making packing mistakes that can eventually turn any holiday into a logistical nightmare.

These outfit oversights and packing shouldn't-do's go beyond forgetting to bring a jacket or deciding to pack a brand-new pair of shoes that blister your feet (ouch!). In fact, depending on where you go and what you do, making a clothing mistake could land you in some pretty bad trouble with local officials — and, sometimes, even incur a hefty fine that could ruin the rest of your trip.

From walking around in nothing but a bathing suit to wearing heels at historical sites, there are certain destinations across Europe that take their dress codes very seriously.

Cover yourself up in Italy

Sure, Italy might be known as one of the most fashionable destinations in the world. However, travelers looking to go beyond the shops should be aware that certain historic and cultural sites require guests to leave the trends at home and follow a strict, relatively conservative dress code instead.

For example, if you're planning to visit popular tourist spots like the Vatican, the Pantheon, or the Museum of the Dead — along with churches and other sacred places — it's important to read up on the rules to avoid getting caught off guard at the door. Specifically, most of these sites require that you cover up your knees and shoulders (a cardigan or shawl works perfectly during the hot summer months), not wear crop tops or anything with revealing cut-outs, and switch up the low-cut top for a higher neckline that covers more skin.,br />
Similarly, destinations outside of cities like Rome and Milan are also enforcing their own rules in order to crack down on inappropriate attire. For example, Sorrento recently announced that it would start fining visitors up to $546 for walking around town in a bathing suit. Meanwhile, Praia a Mare — in the southern region of Calabria — has gone as far as banning people from walking around barefoot.

Don't walk around in swimwear in Croatia

Similar to Italy, Croatian officials and authorities have been playing their part in ensuring that visitors follow basic etiquette and dress codes — especially when it comes to when and where to wear the right thing. In fact, both Split and Dubrovnik are cracking down on shirtless and bikini-clad tourists walking around cultural and historic city centers. Slapping them with fines of up to $160 for disobeying the public dress code, local officials hope this will dissuade tourists from flouting local norms.

Let's put it this way: You wouldn't want to run into a rowdy group of half-naked tourists on your way to a sacred site or formal venue, right? Well, neither do Croatians who already have to deal with crowds and noise — especially during the summer months.

In addition to this, clothes and accessories that allude to drugs and drug use are also banned from most town centers in Croatia — and can result in a fine or, worse, jail time for anyone seen wearing them.

Kick off the high heels in Greece

Dreaming of wearing your best dress with the perfect pair of high heels while strolling around Greece's most beautiful sites? Think again. Since 2009, Greek officials enforce a strict "no heels allowed" policy at popular tourist destinations, like the Parthenon and Acropolis, in order to preserve the archeological sites' integrity and structure.

Since heels tend to be quite sharp and potentially damaging, experts decided that the best way to protect these thousand-year-old monuments was to completely ban visitors from wearing any type of pointy, narrow, or too-harsh footwear that could cause unnecessary wear and tear to the surface. Instead of trying to make a fashion statement, simply pack a pair of walking shoes and you should be good to go.

Along with this, certain churches and monasteries in Greece also require that visitors dress modestly — as in, nothing cropped, low-cut, or revealing — in order to respect the sanctity and traditions. In some cases, wraps are available for rent at the entrance of certain sites.
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Slip on some speedos in France

Men, this one's for you! Most popular French beaches are all about kicking back and letting loose: think riding world-class waves, playing volleyball surrounded by scenic views, and even catching some rays where the sun don't shine (if you know what we mean...).

However, if you're planning on hitting up a public pool during your time in the country, it's best that you come prepared to show off a little more skin than you're probably used to. Specifically, that means packing a speedo alongside your sunglasses and sunscreen.

Since 1903, France has strongly encouraged that all men and boys who visit public pools wear the tight-fitting swimwear as opposed to loose trunks or board shorts. The reason? Speedos are more hygienic than their baggy counterparts. Speaking to The Daily Star in 2022, Emmanuel Dormois — a head pool attendant in Paris — told the outlet that, while swimming shorts can be worn throughout the day — and accumulate dirt, grime, and sand in the process — speedos are only worn while swimming, which means there's less of a chance that they'll bring something into the pool water.

Ditch the flip-flops in Spain

If you're planning on choosing a rental car during your vacation to Spain, it's important to keep in mind that certain regulations might mean you can't just wear anything behind the wheel — especially when it comes to your footwear of choice.

Specifically, local authorities in Spain have been working toward keeping their roads and drivers safer by dissuading people from wearing flip-flops while they drive, as this could compromise control of the vehicle and increase the risk of accidents.

Although wearing flip-flops while driving isn't technically illegal, your shoe choice could still lead to penalties. According to Spain's Department of Traffic (DGT), driving barefoot or with flip-flops could incur a fine of up to $215 if the driver commits an infraction as a result of impaired driving abilities. Meanwhile, driving shirtless — which goes against the local rule that drivers always need to ensure their safety because if there's an accident, the seat belt can hurt a shirtless driver  — could also result in a fine of roughly $107.

Source: https://www.explore.com/author/camilaperezb/

London’s Iconic Underground Map Is Getting An Update, With 6 New Names And Colors

For anyone with even a passing acquaintance with London, the city’s Tube map is as iconic as the red buses or the black cabs.

But for the past few years, there’s been something not quite right about the map originally designed by Harry Beck in 1933 — a collection of orange train lines, mostly orbiting the inner city, known as the London Overground.

They are like interlopers on the carefully crafted and easy-to-navigate map.

Yes, it’s been confusing for Londoners too.

Now, London Mayor Sadiq Khan hopes to bring some clarity to the suburban rail network that was established in 2007 through the effective merger of previous routes, and has grown to carry more than 3 million customers a week across more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) of railway and 113 stations.

His solution, following widespread consultation, is simple — giving them names and new colors!

“Giving each of the Overground lines distinct colors and identities will make it simpler and easier for passengers to get around,” Khan said Thursday. “In re-imagining London’s tube map, we are also honoring and celebrating different parts of London’s unique local history and culture.”

The six names and colors will be:

— Lioness, which runs through Wembley Stadium in north London and honors the recent achievements of the England women’s soccer team. It will be shown as double yellow lines on the map.

— Mildmay, which honors a small charitable hospital in east London that played a crucial role caring for those with HIV/Aids in the early days of the illness in the 1980s. It will be shown as double blue lines on the map.

— Windrush, which commemorates the ship that landed near London in 1948, carrying more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean to new lives in Britain. A number of the stations on the line have historic Black communities, such as Peckham Rye and West Croydon. It will be shown as double red lines on the map.

— Weaver, which runs from the heart of the financial district in Liverpool Street to places such as Spitalfields, Bethnal Green and Hackney, where the textile trade blossomed. It will be shown with double maroon lines on the map.

— Suffragette, which celebrates the role of the working-class movement in the east of the city in the fight for women’s rights. The line runs to Barking, home of the longest surviving suffragette Annie Huggett, who died at the age of 103 in 1996. It will be shown with double green lines on the map.

— Liberty, which celebrates the eternal freedoms of the city and goes through Havering, which has historically had more self-governance than other parts of London. It will be shown with double grey lines on the map.

Transport for London expects the full rebranding to be completed by the end of the year. It will include an updated Tube map and station signs as well as the rerecording of public address announcements.

Last summer, the mayor’s office said the rebranding project had an estimated cost of 6.3 million pounds ($8 million), the bulk of which would be used to update customer information.

The Conservative opposition at City Hall said the changes were a “wasted opportunity” and that the mayor could have earned tens of millions of pounds by tendering the naming rights to commercial sponsors, as often occurs with sporting stadia, for example, with the money raised used to finance upgrades elsewhere in London’s transport system.

Mayor Khan said that was considered but that the “key thing was to make sure the lines have a link with the communities they are from.”

Last year, Transport for London changed the name of Bond Street tube station to Burberry Street for a week as part of a sponsorship deal, drawing widespread criticism. Detractors said the temporary name change, along with signage in blue instead of London underground red, caused confusion for visitors.

BY PAN PYLAS

Travelore News: Lufthansa Ground Staff To Strike On February 20, Says Union

Ground staff at German airline Lufthansa opens new tab LHAG.DE will go on strike on Tuesday, the Verdi union said on Sunday, announcing the latest industrial action to hit Germany's transport sector as workers demand more pay.

The strike is scheduled to start at 4 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Tuesday and finish at 7.10 a.m. (0610 GMT) on Wednesday, the union said. The airports affected are Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Duesseldorf, Cologne and Stuttgart.

Michael Niggemann, the Lufthansa executive board member responsible for human resources, said the strike was unfortunate as the German carrier had made a "far reaching" offer during talks - which Verdi had rejected - and it would inconvenience customers and staff alike.

A similar strike caused the cancellation of 900 out of 1,000 planned flights at the start of February, affecting about 100,000 passengers.

The ground services arm is among several groups of Lufthansa workers in negotiations over collective bargaining agreements.

Verdi is demanding a wage increase of 12.5% for 25,000 ground staff workers, or at least 500 euros ($544.30) a month more over a 12-month period, plus a one-off payment of 3,000 euros to offset inflation. Germany, Europe's largest economy, has been hit with a number of nationwide strikes affecting air travel, railways and public transport.

Reporting by Ilona Wissenback and Alexander Ratz Writing by Sarah Marsh Editing by David Goodman, Reuters

Flight Attendant Reveals What They're 'Really Doing' When They Ask To See Your Boarding Pass

Any frequent flyers reading this will know that after a certain number of flights, all journeys start to feel pretty repetitive.

You check in, go through security with your teeny tiny bottles of shampoo, you spend three hours in purgatory (I mean, duty-free), then you queue for your gate, get your boarding pass checked, sit in a cramped chair for six hours, stand up way too early once the plane's landed, and then quietly race everybody else to baggage claim.

However, despite appearing to be very 'routine', there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes that most passengers are completely unaware of.

For example, flight attendants have a lot of confidential methods that they use to communicate with one another in order to help the flight go smoothly without alarming any of the passengers.

In fact, one cabin crew member took part in a quora Q&A that revealed the real reason why flight attendants greet passengers as they board the plane and why they ask for their boarding passes.

Now, most of us will probably assume they're just being polite and helping to direct us to our seats - but that's not the case. (I mean, unless you're going in the cockpit, you can safely assume you're going down the fuselage where all the seats are.)

It actually has a hidden security purpose that I guarantee you'd never have thought of, and that is to assess the health and general wellbeing of the passenger, and confirm that they are indeed in a fit state to fly.

Shrey P, who claims to have been a flight attendant for five different airlines, stated that the crew "check plenty of things and it will all happen in a glance". Some of the main points Shrey listed were:

What kind of clothes are you wearing?

Are you traveling alone or with someone?

How patient are you while waiting in that long line during boarding?

If you are an able-bodied passenger, in case we need help for any kind of emergency.

Are you intoxicated?

What kind of book are you carrying or reading? (If you are reading a medical journal or so we know who to approach for First Aid)

Shrey then stated: "The list can go on which usually happens in few minutes of boarding time."

Some of Shrey's points were also confirmed by TikTok user Kat Kamalani, who said in an eye-opening video: "Have you ever walked on the plane and seen the flight attendants standing here greeting you, or the flight attendants walking up and down the aisle? Well, I'm about to tell you what we're really doing.

"When you walk on the plane and see our happy, smiley face, we're actually looking you up and down and trying to find our able-bodied people. So these are people who are going to help us in an emergency."

Kalamani says that flight attendants often keep their eyes peeled for military personnel, firefighters, nurses, and doctors on board the aircraft.

Myriam Frafar, a flight attendant for German airline Condor, also confirmed Shrey's points, explaining the valid reason for the cabin crew asking for your boarding pass on the thread.

Frafar explained: "I check if they are drunk, drugged, sick, angry or afraid. That is extremely important as if I have the possibility to avoid any kind of troubles over the Atlantic, then I address it on ground. I say 'Hello, welcome on board', and I listen to how they respond."

Another attendant stated on the thread that they also use the meet and greet moment at the aircraft door to check whether a passenger is ill and may need further treatment on the ground, stating: "I've had passengers board who look pasty and pale, deathly ill. We removed them; nobody wants their flu germs!"

Shrey also revealed the truth about your in-flight meals, saying: "[They] are very unhealthy. Even if you have ordered that raw meal, vegan meal, bland meal etc. The food on your tray is prepared not in the galley but in the aircraft catering which is often done 12 hours before and even days before the aircraft departure. Now, how many such industries do you know where the hot or cold meal was made days before you consume it?

"The scrambled egg or the omelet that you just had was not only egg but can be a mix of egg and other substitutes. That cut fruit which is on your tray still looks fresh and how is that possible when it was cut hours before the departure, have you ever wondered?

"Most of us aren't aware of this, but when we are at cruise, the air pressure in an airliner is equal to about 8,000 feet above sea level (6,000-ft in a Dreamliner). In addition to making your ears pop, it causes our taste buds and sense of smell to go partially numb.

"This has major impact on how food tastes & smells [making] it super bland. So airline catering in recent years has really pumped up the spices, salts, and fats - all to make your mouth happy."

Per BBC News, this was confirmed in a 2010 study by Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, which confirmed that passengers lose around 30% sensitivity in their taste buds to sweet and salty foods.

By Stefan Armitage

Amex Just Opened Its Largest Centurion Lounge — With A Whiskey Bar, 4,000 Square Feet Of Patio Space, And Food From A James Beard Award Semifinalist

Amex's latest lounge is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport — and we were one of the first to check it out.

The next chapter of American Express lounges is here.

The card issuer has opened the doors to its newest Centurion Lounge — the largest ever — at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. At nearly 26,000 square feet, it’s nearly double the size of the next biggest Centurion Lounge at New York's JFK.

More importantly, it's arguably the most visually stunning in the entire 28-lounge portfolio.

The latest opening, near gate E11 in Atlanta’s international concourse, symbolizes a new era for Amex. A little over a decade has passed since the first-ever Centurion Lounge opened in Las Vegas. Since then, consumer preferences have evolved, and with thousands of additional premium Amex cardholders, more travelers have access. The competition — from the likes of Chase and Capital One— has also been fiercer than ever.

“Lounges have always been a physical manifestation of card membership, but this space [in Atlanta] is our next generation of what that looks like,” Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, shared with Travel + Leisure while in the new lounge.

Indeed, the residential-inspired space — with soaring ceilings, lush greenery, and two outdoor terraces — feels like a significant evolution of Amex’s existing lounge design, one that has by and large remained the same for years. Instead of a cookie-cutter aesthetic replicated across the network, Amex continues to lean further into custom lounges that align with the cities they’re located in.

For the Atlanta location, the centerpiece is a 50-year-old olive tree and a dramatic, cascading custom light sculpture—a combination that greets guests as soon as they enter the canopy-like space. It’s a nod to Atlanta’s reputation as “the city in the forest” and its abundance of trees.

The star of the lounge, though, are the dual patios totaling 4,000 square feet. Each is complete with meticulously landscaped seating areas and heaters and fans for year-round use. On one terrace—in a space that spans nearly the entire length of the lounge — feature the action of the airfield and is an ideal spot for aviation aficionados. For more of an intimate and peaceful experience, however, travelers can take a momentary breather on the interior-facing (and zen-like) terrace.

“One of our main focuses in our lounges is on customer wellness, and here, we want to help bring the outside world in,” Hendley remarked.

Among other notable amenities, Amex will offer its first-ever whiskey bar, dubbed The Reserve by American Express. Besides a selection of classic and new American whiskeys, bartenders will serve a range of signature cocktails (and mocktails, including the Sir Charles Frosty Blue, a non-alcoholic concoction of grapefruit soda, Seedlip Spice 94, salt, and lime). The expansive buffet area features the cuisine of Chef Deborah VanTrece, a James Beard Award semifinalist and owner of three local Atlanta restaurants. Her customized global soul food menu includes specialties like black-eyed pea biryani, za'atar grilled chicken with green tomato chimichurri, and a “Twisted Soul Salad” with strawberry peppercorn vinaigrette.

In addition to the main buffet setup, Amex now offers several wellness stations throughout the lounge with gluten-free and vegan options, including protein bites, salads, smoothies, and immunity booster juice shots. One notable omission? A lack of grab-and-go options or a la carte ordering, as some other lounge competitors offer. Still, the food variety and quality are a noticeable step up from other Centurion Lounges.

Of course, the new Atlanta lounge includes numerous distinct seating areas including multiple communal desks, high-top tables, and comfortable loungers. Nearly all seats in the Centurion Lounge have access to power outlets, USB-C, and USB-A ports. For travelers looking to get some work done, there are four private phone booths and five built-in workstations, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Centurion Lounge in Atlanta is located in the E concourse by gate E11 and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

American Express cardmembers with a Centurion or Platinum-branded card such as The Platinum Card from American Express or The Business Platinum Card from American Express have access to Centurion Lounges within three hours of flight departure. In addition, Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card members can access the lounge when flying on a Delta flight.

Only the primary cardholder (and authorized users) have complimentary access to the lounge. Cardholder guests are charged a fee of $50.

Source: https://www.travelandleisure.com/chris-dong-7254869

National Harbor Celebrates Cherry Blossoms During Its Popular Cherry Blossom Season From March 20 To April 14

National Harbor has become a prime location in the D.C. region to celebrate its spectacular (early) cherry tree display. The 350-acre resort property has more than 200 cherry blossoms. Visitors can enjoy the trees along the 1.2 mile waterfront trail that bloom earlier than those on the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. This year’s festivities take place from March 20 to April 14 with National Harbor also serving as an official participant of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. In addition to National Harbor’s breathtaking waterfront views, this year’s celebration will be filled with entertainment, hotel room packages, food and drink specials, classes and more.

The annual Sakura Sunday festival, an official participating event of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, will be held on Sunday, March 24 from noon to 6 p.m. and will feature free cultural activities including Japanese inspired art, music, dance, culinary delights, and a Japanese market.

Throughout the month, National Harbor will host classes and events including origami, sushi making, Japanese games provided by Katsucon Entertainment, Inc., bonsai, sake, and candle making.

Restaurants throughout National Harbor will celebrate with food specials and will join National Harbor hotels and retailers in having a variety of special offers and displays. MGM National Harbor has its beautiful spring conservatory installation. Some of National Harbor’s eight hotels will offer specials and packages. Select hotels will provide special National Harbor welcome swag bags with Cherry Blossom package deals.

For more information on National Harbor and cherry blossom activities and offerings, go to www.nationalharbor.com/cherryblossom/. Events and activities will be added to the schedule as confirmed.